Morganelli Calls For Audit.

Is This What They Call Escalation?Democratic Attorney General candidate John Morganelli says he wants
Auditor General Jack Wagner to look at incumbent Republican AG Tom Corbett's spending on radio PSAs touting an illegal gun task force in Philly.In an e-mail missive we received this morning, Morganelli says he also wants to know why the spots are now appearing on twice the number of stations they have in the past."These are nothing but political advertisements disguised as 'public service announcements' saturating the airwaves of southeastern Pennsylvania in an election year," Morganelli charged.Earlier this month, intrepid former Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents Association intern David Spett reported that Corbett's office spent around $625,000 on the spots, which the GOP AG described as a bipartisan effort with Philly DA Lynne Abraham.Funding for the radio spots came from the $5 million budget of an illegal-gun task force formed in 2006. And Morganelli has said he thinks the money could be better spent on hiring more cops or on increased enforcement.
Corbett's official spokesman, Kevin Harley, told the Inky earlier this month that the spots have helped cut down on the number of so-called "straw purchases" of weapons."It doesn't say, 'Vote for Tom Corbett,' " Harley told Spett. "We've had defendants say, 'I knew you were coming. I heard it on
the radio that you guys were arresting people for this.'"Nonetheless, Morganelli says he wants an accounting of the money."The public has a right to know exactly how much taxpayer money was misused," he said. "And the question must be answered why the spending and radio stations doubled in 2008 -- the re-election year."

The rest of today's news, which includes no PSAs at all, about anything, starts after the jump.

Obligatory Bail-Out Update.Pennsylvania's congressional delegation split on yesterday's failed vote on
the Bush administration's $700 billion Wall Street bail-out. And not surprisingly, the way some folks voted was influenced by the difficulty of their re-election campaigns.Here's the breakdown from the AP:U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-11th, who's facing a tough challenge from el Alcalde de Hazleton, Lou Barletta, voted in favor.U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-17th, voted against it.U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-10th, who's facing Republican Chris Hackett, voted no, as did U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-8th, who's facing former Congresswoman Melissa Hart. Ditto for U.S. Rep. Phil English, R-3rd, who's facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper.Only one PA Republican, U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-5th, who's retiring at the end of the year, voted in favor of the bail-out bill, the AP reported.All together, 10 House members from the state voted against it, while nine supported it, the AP reported.Besides Kanjorski, the Democrats voting in favor were U.S. Reps. Bob
Brady, Chaka Fattah, Allyson Schwartz, Joe Sestak, Patrick Murphy, John
Murtha and Mike Doyle.The other
Pennsylvania Republicans who opposed the legislation were U.S. Reps. Jim
Gerlach, Bill Shuster, Charles Dent, Joe Pitts, Tim Murphy, and Todd
Platts, the AP reported.

Just A Couple Days After ...... he signed legislation that would move some non-violent offenders out
of prison faster, Gov. Ed called on the Corrections Department yesterday to suspend the release of all offenders who have been recommended for parole.Rendell said he wants Corrections to hold off on any releases until Temple University criminal justice expert John Goldkamp finishes a review of the parole process for violent offenders. A brief refresher: Right now, the Corrections Department prepares inmates for release, while the state Board of Probation and Parole determines whether they're actually ready for release. Rendell says he wants Goldkamp to study that process, as well as how both agencies supervise parolees after they're back on the streets. The parole board can continue conducting hearings while Goldkamp does his study, but cannot grant parole, Rendell said.Last week, Philadelphia Police Officer Patrick McDonald, 30, was gunned down by a recently paroled offender during a routine traffic stop. According to the Inky, Daniel Giddings, shot the officer repeatedly before being shot and killed by police as he attempted to flee.Giddings was released from prison Aug. 18 after serving 10 years
for robbery and aggravated assault.

The State Senate ...... could vote as soon as next week on legislation creating a housing trust fund in the state. Paying for it ... that's another matter, our friends at Capitolwire report this morning.Legislation authorizing the program is now before both the House and Senate and prior versions of each bill called for a $10 million appropriation. But lawmakers cut that, and staffers now say a funding source would have to be worked out next year, probably during budget negotiations, Capitolwire reported.Thirty-eight other
states and more than 100 cities and counties have such funds, which help first-time buyers or families struggling to pay for home repairs.

Once More Into The Breech.For roughly the 734th time in a row, a top Senate Republican has called on
Democrats in the state House to move seven stalled reform bills before the end of this year's legislative session.In a meeting with editors at the Tribune-Review, Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, and Majority Whip Jane Orie, R-Allegheny, said the chamber has received "no indication" that the House will move the bills."It leads you to question how serious [House leaders] are about reform," Orie said. Tom Andrews, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, said one of the reform bills, which increase penalties for violating the state's Sunshine law, "is on the House voting calendar" for next week.This assertion, of course, is pretty much meaningless. The House could put a bill on the calendar turning Tuesday into Wednesday if they wanted to, but that doesn't mean they'll have to vote for it.In addition, the meter is running. The House has amended the bill, and the Senate, which would need to reconsider it, is only scheduled for three session days next week. The chamber also has no plans to return for the so-called post-election "sine die" session.According to Andrews, the House "is an equal chamber" to the Senate and can make whatever changes it wants to the bill. "If they want to avoid working in the month of November, that's up to them," said Andrews, who questioned whether the Senate is serious about the bills since it will not be in session after next week.And who really loses in this staring contest?That's right ... you do.

Press Release Of The Day.A long-dormant Capitol Ideas feature returns this morning, courtesy of Rep. Camille "Bud" George, D-Clearfield.Yesterday, George's office said help was on the way for flood-plagued residents who live along something called "Stinky Run," in Clearfield Borough.According to George, the Department of Environmental Protection is putting the finishing touches on a state grant that would remove flood debris and other obstructions along the tributary.Apparently, this would provide short-term aid until the state puts in some box culverts starting in 2010 or 2011.While we are glad that homeowners are receiving what is surely some badly needed relief, we'd also humbly submit that these problems could have been avoided had they not lived near a body of water called ... well ... "Stinky Run."

EdWatch (TM):If Gov. Ed has a public schedule, he's keeping it to himself today. We received no notice ... not that we're offended ...In The Blogosphere.GrassrootsPA links to a look at a race in the 136th House District (that's Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, for those of you playing along at home); 2 Political Junkies celebrate Banned Books Week (and this is a celebration of NOT banning books, got it?); When in doubt, Tony Phyrillas will blame Democrats; PSoTD on Nudism for Dollars; Above Average Jane would like you to mark your calendars, please; Bernie O'Hare on a contretemps at last week's Michelle Obama appearance in the LV; LV Conservative suggests that there's enough blame to go around; Bird's Eye View on the reintroduction of Sarah Palin; Forty-Fourth Estate catches up with former House Speaker Tom DeLay, who finds current Speaker Nancy Pelosi incompetent (though we're not sure what's worse: incompetence or a criminal indictment); Wonkette has your daily briefing; Daily Kos has today's candidates' travel schedules; Hotline watched TV last night; Taegan Goddard has some presidential poll results from the Garden State; Red State says Thad McCotter should be fired; Arianna Huffington wants to know whether Johnny Mac still thinks government is the problem; Crooks and Liars throws it open to the readers, and Glenn O'Brien has some extensive thoughts on the rise of the "mediaocracy."On The Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning.Here's one we hadn't heard for a while. From 1994 or 1995, it's Adam Ant's "comeback" single "Wonderful."

Tuesday's Gratuitous Soccer Link.Champions League play resumes this evening with Manchester United facing AaB Aalborg (who, we think, are Norwegian) and Arsenal squaring off against FC Porto of Portugal.

That's it for today. We're out-of-state today celebrating the Jewish New Year with Mrs. Capitol Ideas and her family. So, to all our Jewish readers, have a peaceful Rosh Hashanah, and, of course, L'shnah Tovah! See you all tomorrow.